Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Public Masonic Charities Of The United States Of America.
THE PUBLIC MASONIC CHARITIES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA .
BY CLIFFORD P . MACCALLA . The amount dispensed in charity by Masonic bodies all over the Avorld Avill never be known . Our principles forbid us to speak of , much less to boast ofor
pub-, lish it . Just as the rays of the sun fall silently upon the earth , eA'ery clay Avarming it into new life , so Masonic charity comes to the distressed—in the beginning unheralded , and afterAvards unsung . I therefore have nothing to say respecting the
noblest and most characteristic gifts of the Craft . But the purposes of Masonry have been deemed not entirely fulfilled by the dispensing of charity through the ordinary channels of fraternal benevolence—hence Public Masonic Charities have bnp . u
established in all civilized countries , with a view to providing permanent homes for aged and infirm needy brethren , and their destitute AvidoAvs and orphans , and likeAvise to educate , free of charge , the promising sons ancl daughters of indigent Master Masons . The guard of secrecy cannot be thrown
around such efforts , ancl it has not been attempted . It is permitted , therefore , to speak or write freely of institutions of this character , since they , like our constitutions and bye-laws are open to public observation , and , thereforeare no part of the
, secrets of Masonry , England , as the oldest grand jurisdiction in the Avorld , naturally leads the Avay in examples of public Masonic charities , Avith her Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , founded A . D . 1788 ; the Royal Masonic
Institution for Boys , founded A . D . 1798 ; and the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and Widows of Freemasons , founded A . D . 1842 : but the United States is folloAving in the footsteps of her Masonic mother at no unequal
pace . Not a few" of her forty-three Grand Loclges are IIOAV engaged in the organization of Masonic homes , orphan asylums , colleges ancl schools ; ancl four of them , at least , have had such institutions in successful operation for years . I invite attention to these , as demonstrating Avhat has been done , ancl is doing , in certain jurisdictions ,
and may be clone in all , where fraternal Avisdom aud charity are combined in furthering similar public efforts . The most successful public Masonic charities in the United States are : the Masonic WidoAvs' and Orphans' Home , of Kentuckfounded in 1867 ; St . John ' s
y , Masonic College , Arkansas , founded in 1850 ; the Masonic Orphan Asylum , North Carolina , opened in 1873 , upon the previous foundation of a St . John ' s College , which Avas unsuccessful ; and the Southern Masonic Female College , Georgia , founded
in 1853 . Of each of these institutions I shall give some general details , gathered from official sources . Prior , to doing this , hoAvever , I Avould mention , that the fraternity in the jurisdictions of Pennsylvania ancl Connecticut have recently taken the initiatory steps to establish Masonic homes for indigent brethren , their AVICIOAVS and orphans , Avhich
promise to be entirely successful at no distant day . The brethren having the Pennsylvania Masonic Home in charge have asked for $ 50 , 000 in voluntary contributions , as the nucleus for the foundation of this charity , ancl $ 35 , 000 of this sum have been already subscribed ; Avhile the
brethren in Connecticut are striving to raise $ 100 , 000 for a similar purpose , and the Grand Master and Grand Lodge of that jurisdiction are labouring earnestly in behalf of their noble Avork . The Grand Lodge of New Jersey , several years ago ,
undertook the establishment of a like charity , but contributions for it Avere obtained so slowly , that it has recently been abandoned . The comparative business stagnation of the last two years has been especiallunfavourable for the
proy motion of new efforts of this kind , and hence Ave cannot reasonably look for their speedy success . The Masonic Widows' and Orphans' Home .
This is the best known and the most successful of the Masonic Charities of America . It is located in the city of Louisville , Kentucky , and Avas incoporatecl by Act of Assembly , ' in 1867 . Its object is to provide home for destitute Avidows
a ancl orphans of deceased Freemasons of the State of Kentucky , and an Infirmary for the reception of sick aud afflicted Freemasons AVIIO may be placed under its care . It is authorised to hold real estate
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Public Masonic Charities Of The United States Of America.
THE PUBLIC MASONIC CHARITIES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA .
BY CLIFFORD P . MACCALLA . The amount dispensed in charity by Masonic bodies all over the Avorld Avill never be known . Our principles forbid us to speak of , much less to boast ofor
pub-, lish it . Just as the rays of the sun fall silently upon the earth , eA'ery clay Avarming it into new life , so Masonic charity comes to the distressed—in the beginning unheralded , and afterAvards unsung . I therefore have nothing to say respecting the
noblest and most characteristic gifts of the Craft . But the purposes of Masonry have been deemed not entirely fulfilled by the dispensing of charity through the ordinary channels of fraternal benevolence—hence Public Masonic Charities have bnp . u
established in all civilized countries , with a view to providing permanent homes for aged and infirm needy brethren , and their destitute AvidoAvs and orphans , and likeAvise to educate , free of charge , the promising sons ancl daughters of indigent Master Masons . The guard of secrecy cannot be thrown
around such efforts , ancl it has not been attempted . It is permitted , therefore , to speak or write freely of institutions of this character , since they , like our constitutions and bye-laws are open to public observation , and , thereforeare no part of the
, secrets of Masonry , England , as the oldest grand jurisdiction in the Avorld , naturally leads the Avay in examples of public Masonic charities , Avith her Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , founded A . D . 1788 ; the Royal Masonic
Institution for Boys , founded A . D . 1798 ; and the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and Widows of Freemasons , founded A . D . 1842 : but the United States is folloAving in the footsteps of her Masonic mother at no unequal
pace . Not a few" of her forty-three Grand Loclges are IIOAV engaged in the organization of Masonic homes , orphan asylums , colleges ancl schools ; ancl four of them , at least , have had such institutions in successful operation for years . I invite attention to these , as demonstrating Avhat has been done , ancl is doing , in certain jurisdictions ,
and may be clone in all , where fraternal Avisdom aud charity are combined in furthering similar public efforts . The most successful public Masonic charities in the United States are : the Masonic WidoAvs' and Orphans' Home , of Kentuckfounded in 1867 ; St . John ' s
y , Masonic College , Arkansas , founded in 1850 ; the Masonic Orphan Asylum , North Carolina , opened in 1873 , upon the previous foundation of a St . John ' s College , which Avas unsuccessful ; and the Southern Masonic Female College , Georgia , founded
in 1853 . Of each of these institutions I shall give some general details , gathered from official sources . Prior , to doing this , hoAvever , I Avould mention , that the fraternity in the jurisdictions of Pennsylvania ancl Connecticut have recently taken the initiatory steps to establish Masonic homes for indigent brethren , their AVICIOAVS and orphans , Avhich
promise to be entirely successful at no distant day . The brethren having the Pennsylvania Masonic Home in charge have asked for $ 50 , 000 in voluntary contributions , as the nucleus for the foundation of this charity , ancl $ 35 , 000 of this sum have been already subscribed ; Avhile the
brethren in Connecticut are striving to raise $ 100 , 000 for a similar purpose , and the Grand Master and Grand Lodge of that jurisdiction are labouring earnestly in behalf of their noble Avork . The Grand Lodge of New Jersey , several years ago ,
undertook the establishment of a like charity , but contributions for it Avere obtained so slowly , that it has recently been abandoned . The comparative business stagnation of the last two years has been especiallunfavourable for the
proy motion of new efforts of this kind , and hence Ave cannot reasonably look for their speedy success . The Masonic Widows' and Orphans' Home .
This is the best known and the most successful of the Masonic Charities of America . It is located in the city of Louisville , Kentucky , and Avas incoporatecl by Act of Assembly , ' in 1867 . Its object is to provide home for destitute Avidows
a ancl orphans of deceased Freemasons of the State of Kentucky , and an Infirmary for the reception of sick aud afflicted Freemasons AVIIO may be placed under its care . It is authorised to hold real estate